As a condition of being mentioned by the lovely and extraordinarily talented Kelly over at Handmade at Home a few days ago, I have to think of seven random things about myself to tell you all about. I often struggle with these sorts of things, as it takes me so long to think of anything worth mentioning at all, that by the time I have thought of seven things the randomness has disappeared! Anyway, here goes:
1) I have a favourite cuddly dog called Muff-Muff who I have had since I was 15 months old. Apparently, he was given this moniker because that was the noise I would make instead of ‘woof-woof’ as a toddler. Muff has been stuck with me thick and thin ever since and was my most faithful confidant at boarding school. His biggest adventure was when I took him on my honeymoon and accidentally left him in the hotel- I had to frantically accost the guard on the Eurostar on the way home, begging to borrow his phone so I could call the hotel to secure Muff's safe recovery. He could really do with a new outfit- I will have to put that in my queue of makes...
2) As a girl, I was a very keen member of the Guides- starting off in Brownies at 7, joining Guides at 10, Ranger Guides at 14 and then going on to help run our local Rainbow Guide group at 17. I was awarded highest Girl Guide badge, The Baden Powell Trefoil with my fabulous friend Zoe who is still very involved in Guiding- running Brownies, Guides and Ranger groups of her own. I have been considering getting involved with helping out again, but I really don’t think I can commit the time at the moment.
3) I’m ashamed to admit that I really love McDonald’s food. It’s my guiltiest secret.
4) My favourite piece of furniture is this sideboard that I picked up in a charity shop for five pounds, some years back. I've no idea why I like it so much, I think it’s something to do with the pleasing square angles and symmetry. At the moment it’s used to house Steve’s 7” singles and a few other bits and bobs, but my aim is to one day fill it all the way along with old orange Penguin Classics.
5) I really hate having to have a car- it just seems to drink money and makes me so lazy. When we lived in Brighton we didn't have a car and I used to cycle everywhere, whatever the weather. Flora had a seat on the front of my bike and I used to drop her off to nursery on the way to work. The cycle along the seafront with the wind in my face was so invigorating and I always arrived at work full of energy and enthusiasm. Now I just feel exhausted and sluggish.
6) A few miles up the road from where I live, there is a wind farm and I drive past it every morning on the way to work. The money to build it was raised by the hard work of a very dedicated group of residents and was erected on the land of a local organic farmer. As you can imagine, the whole proposal led to a big hoo-ha, as they presented as a symbol of 'alternativeness’ which wasn’t readily accepted in home-counties rural middle England. However, people have got used to them now, and I think they are really quite beautiful constructions which blend into the landscape around them.
7) When I was 19, my friend and I hitchhiked all the way from Plymouth to Paris. It took a day and a half and we were picked up by kindly lorry drivers of various nationalities, most of whom we had no means of conversing with whatsoever and we weren’t always entirely sure they were going the right way. I will have a heart attack if either of my girls attempt to do anything so stupid when they are teenagers.
Finally, I am supposed to mention two other blogs to pass along the game. I would like to mention Winnibriggshouse because it is such a pretty and light-hearted blog that makes me smile when I read it. She has a giveaway at the moment too, so sign up quick! The other blog will be Baby and Wool because new-mummy Fay's musings about beautiful baby Florence and the things she knits her, transports me back to those lovely gooey months of new babydom and lazy, hazy maternity leave. Broody, moi?
1) I have a favourite cuddly dog called Muff-Muff who I have had since I was 15 months old. Apparently, he was given this moniker because that was the noise I would make instead of ‘woof-woof’ as a toddler. Muff has been stuck with me thick and thin ever since and was my most faithful confidant at boarding school. His biggest adventure was when I took him on my honeymoon and accidentally left him in the hotel- I had to frantically accost the guard on the Eurostar on the way home, begging to borrow his phone so I could call the hotel to secure Muff's safe recovery. He could really do with a new outfit- I will have to put that in my queue of makes...
2) As a girl, I was a very keen member of the Guides- starting off in Brownies at 7, joining Guides at 10, Ranger Guides at 14 and then going on to help run our local Rainbow Guide group at 17. I was awarded highest Girl Guide badge, The Baden Powell Trefoil with my fabulous friend Zoe who is still very involved in Guiding- running Brownies, Guides and Ranger groups of her own. I have been considering getting involved with helping out again, but I really don’t think I can commit the time at the moment.
3) I’m ashamed to admit that I really love McDonald’s food. It’s my guiltiest secret.
4) My favourite piece of furniture is this sideboard that I picked up in a charity shop for five pounds, some years back. I've no idea why I like it so much, I think it’s something to do with the pleasing square angles and symmetry. At the moment it’s used to house Steve’s 7” singles and a few other bits and bobs, but my aim is to one day fill it all the way along with old orange Penguin Classics.
5) I really hate having to have a car- it just seems to drink money and makes me so lazy. When we lived in Brighton we didn't have a car and I used to cycle everywhere, whatever the weather. Flora had a seat on the front of my bike and I used to drop her off to nursery on the way to work. The cycle along the seafront with the wind in my face was so invigorating and I always arrived at work full of energy and enthusiasm. Now I just feel exhausted and sluggish.
6) A few miles up the road from where I live, there is a wind farm and I drive past it every morning on the way to work. The money to build it was raised by the hard work of a very dedicated group of residents and was erected on the land of a local organic farmer. As you can imagine, the whole proposal led to a big hoo-ha, as they presented as a symbol of 'alternativeness’ which wasn’t readily accepted in home-counties rural middle England. However, people have got used to them now, and I think they are really quite beautiful constructions which blend into the landscape around them.
7) When I was 19, my friend and I hitchhiked all the way from Plymouth to Paris. It took a day and a half and we were picked up by kindly lorry drivers of various nationalities, most of whom we had no means of conversing with whatsoever and we weren’t always entirely sure they were going the right way. I will have a heart attack if either of my girls attempt to do anything so stupid when they are teenagers.
Finally, I am supposed to mention two other blogs to pass along the game. I would like to mention Winnibriggshouse because it is such a pretty and light-hearted blog that makes me smile when I read it. She has a giveaway at the moment too, so sign up quick! The other blog will be Baby and Wool because new-mummy Fay's musings about beautiful baby Florence and the things she knits her, transports me back to those lovely gooey months of new babydom and lazy, hazy maternity leave. Broody, moi?
Thank you for your kind comment, from someone I have only just come into contact with I am very honoured. I have posted before about not accepting awards as I don't usually have time to pass these things on, but as this is a bit different and I only have to nominate 2 other people I will say thank you again and try to think up some 'random' things to list.
ReplyDeletePS very impressed with the guiding, you must have been a marvellous student
Jenny x
It takes more time than you think- I've been thinking of mine all week! Don't worry too much about passing it on. x
ReplyDeletewell done you, great facts!
ReplyDeletei'm thinking i might have to help out at our village beavers group, having grown up as part of the brownies & guides, i'm really keen for George to get involved, he is on the waiting list to start next year but as ever they are always short of helpers,
Hi - thanks for your comment on my blog.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I was never a brownie/guide both my boys have been involved with beavers/cubs/scouts & explorers.
Am envious that you have lived in Brighton - its one of my favourite places.
THANK YOU FOR THE MENTION! I read this a few days ago but was probably called away by the baby hence not replying sooner. I was in the Guides too and all I can say is I'm so jealous you got the Baden Powell award! I only ever got to the middle trefoil (is that the red one?) I also really like wind turbines, I used to think they were large and imposing and ugly but actually they can be rather beautiful sitting on the horizon. I don't live near any though so they are still a novelty when I do see them. I'd have one (a small one) in my garden if I had enough space. Thank you for sharing your 7 things. Fxx
ReplyDeleteHe he I remember Muff muff! Liam also mocks me incessantly about my Baden Powell Award- he found out recently on a trip back to my parents where we turfed out an old drawer and found my sash. Guides was great, even if I did mainly use it as a cover for less wholsesome activities than was suggested in the handbook...
ReplyDelete